Series Productivity Buyer

Forvia, a sustainable mobility technology leader

We pioneer technology for mobility experience that matter to people.

Your mission, roles and responsibilities

As a Series Productivity Buyer, you are the owner of supplier performance and purchasing productivity in serial life—driving cost, quality, and delivery improvements across the plant.
This role combines supplier leadership and commercial ownership with a hands-on plant presence. You will not only negotiate with suppliers and execute purchasing strategies, but also work directly in the plant to identify gaps, build action plans, and drive cross-functional execution.
We are looking for someone who can connect plant realities with supplier actions—and push both internal teams and external partners to deliver results.

What You’ll Do
Own Supplier Performance & Commercial Results
•    Lead supplier cost reduction initiatives including TVO, VA/VE, resourcing, and negotiations
•    Drive QCD performance (Quality, Cost, Delivery) across the supplier base
•    Execute and support competitive resourcing, Make-or-Buy decisions, and supplier recoveries
•    Negotiate pricing improvements, manage cost breakdowns, and support commodity strategies

Drive Purchasing Productivity in Serial Life
•    Own delivery of the plant purchasing budget and savings targets
•    Build and manage a robust pipeline of productivity actions
•    Monitor and report savings, forecasts, and supplier-driven improvements
•    Challenge both suppliers and internal stakeholders to meet financial expectations

Be the Link Between Plant & Suppliers
•    Translate plant issues into clear supplier actions and commercial strategies
•    Work closely with PCL, Operations, Quality, and Engineering to align plant needs with supplier performance
•    Ensure supplier accountability in resolving delivery, quality, and cost issues

Plant-Facing Execution & Continuous Improvement
•    Spend time in the plant identifying inefficiencies and opportunities
•    Build structured action plans and drive execution across functions
•    Influence stakeholders and overcome resistance to implement change
•    Lead or support supplier performance reviews and plant productivity reviews

Program & Change Management
•    Lead purchasing activities related to ECRs, supplier transfers, and localization
•    Support smooth transition from program launch into serial production
•    Actively participate in program reviews and supplier selection input

Your profile and competencies to succeed

What We’re Looking For
Core Background
•    Experience in Plant Control Logistics (PCL), Material Planning, Master Scheduling, OR Purchasing within a plant environment
•    2+ years in automotive manufacturing (Tier 1 preferred)
•    Proven track record of working with suppliers to drive measurable improvements
Purchasing & Supplier Expertise
•    Strong negotiation skills and understanding of cost structures and price drivers
•    Experience with supplier management, resourcing, and performance recovery
•    Ability to hold suppliers accountable while maintaining strong partnerships
Execution & Influence
•    Ability to walk into a plant, identify gaps, and build actionable plans
•    Strong cross-functional leadership—able to drive alignment across Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance
•    Comfortable pushing through resistance to deliver results
Technical Skills
•    Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business
•    Strong Excel skills; Power BI a plus
•    SAP or ERP experience preferred
•    Exposure to cost analysis, dashboards, and productivity tracking tools

What Success Looks Like
•    Suppliers are performing—and when they’re not, you own the recovery plan
•    Cost savings don’t sit on paper—you negotiate and realize them
•    Plant issues are quickly translated into supplier-facing actions
•    You influence both suppliers and internal teams to deliver against commitments

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship of any kind, now or in the future

What we can do for you

• At Forvia, you will find an engaging and dynamic environment where you can contribute to the development of sustainable mobility leading technologies.  
• We are the seventh-largest global automotive supplier, employing more than 157,000 people in more than 40 countries which makes a lot of opportunity for career development. 
• We welcome energetic and agile people who can thrive in a fast-changing environment. People who share our strong values. Team players with a collaborative